Traveling with a pet on Amtrak is a breeze. Especially for this Chihuahua-mix.
Traveling with a pet on Amtrak is a breeze. Especially for this Chihuahua-mix.
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Smart pet tech products for dogs, cats
Here are three useful smart pet tech products for your dogs and cats.
Problem Solved
Amtrak is the best way for Olivia Peloquin to travel from New York City to see family in Boston. It's also the perfect mode of transportation for her dog, Betty. The 2-year-old Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix makes the round-trip journey four times a year in a stylish olive-green bag carrier.
"She's a Velcro dog, she is always next to me, which I love," said Peloquin, who grew up in the seaside town of Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Last year marked 10 years since Amtrak first allowed dogs and cats to travel in its train cars, letting passengers take their pets with them and not worry about finding a sitter. The rail network's pet-friendly option also became more popular during the rise of remote work in recent years, as more people spent time away from home while logging on to their day jobs, said Amtrak Senior Public Relations Manager Marc Magliari.
There are a few restrictions on traveling with dogs and cats, but it's a popular policy that seems to never attract complaints from other passengers, Magliari said.
"It's comforting for people. If your pet travels well without needing to relieve itself, get yourself the right pet carrier, get a reservation and come aboard," Magliari said.
Flying with a cat: Should I travel with my anxious cat?
Betty is always a tad anxious to travel, Peloquin said, but she doesn't bark onboard or disturb other passengers. Once in Massachusetts, the two can spend quality time outdoors, including with Peloquin's sister's two pups, on Gloucester's Wingaersheek Beach.
"She's a very spunky dog, she has a big personality," Peloquin, 35, said. "If I'm walking her on a leash, she'll typically do flips in the air, she loves to play fetch, she loves other people and other dogs."
More: Who are the best veterinarians? USA TODAY wants to know what pet owners think
Can my pet travel on Amtrak?
Amtrak only allows small dogs and cats onboard, and they must be in a carrier, Magliari said.
Other Amtrak pet rules include the following:
Pets are only allowed on trips under seven hours.
The combined weight of the dog or cat and their carrier must be 20 pounds or less.
The animal needs to be older than eight weeks.
Pet carriers can be hard- or soft-sided and must fit in the seat in front of you.
One pet per customer is allowed.
Each carrier can only contain one pet.
The animal must stay in their carrier.
You do not need to buy a separate seat for your pet, and pet fees vary depending on your Amtrak reservation.
Magliari said Amtrak first started allowing pets along its Midwestern routes in 2014, after the Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider asked the rail line if she could bring her dogs with her traveling between Chicago and Springfield.
'Once the experiment began, and it went very well, we just kept expanding it," Magliari said.
Fostering tips He foster failed immediately. But it was because 'something went very right.'
Tips for pet parents
If your dog or cat usually does not enjoy traveling, it's best to leave them at home with a sitter, said Magliari.
Peloquin and Betty have tons of practice taking the subway in New York City, where Peloquin takes the dog on the 1-train from their apartment on the Upper West Side to her dog-friendly office at a design firm in Tribeca.
On trips to New England, Peloquin lets Betty use the bathroom immediately before they get on Amtrak in New York's Penn Station, that way the dog can make it to Boston comfortably. If she doesn't have an assigned seat, Peloquin said she tries to be polite and ask other passengers if it's alright for her to sit next to them with Betty.
Traveling by train with your pet makes sense for a lot of people, Peloquin said, like folks who prefer not to drive or fly.
"Betty is like part of my family, and the train is my favorite way to travel between New York and Boston," Peloquin said. "With Betty being such an important part of my life, I want her to be with me."
More: Who are the best veterinarians in the USA? Vets can help USA TODAY rank top animal doctors
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
FAA caps flights at Newark Airport to cut delays through 2025
The Federal Aviation Administration finalized new air traffic restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport, saying that arrivals and departures would be limited to 34 each per hour through Oct. 25, 2025. Arrivals and departures at EWR will be further reduced on weekends from Sept. 1 through the end of the year to accommodate airport construction. The FAA previously signaled it was planning to reduce traffic at Newark in response to weeks of delays caused by equipment outages and staffing issues that hampered the airport's capacity. "The confirmed reduced rates will maintain safety while alleviating excessive flight delays at the airport due to staffing and equipment challenges. The early completion of runway construction at the airport that added to the delays will also contribute to a more efficient operation," the FAA said in a statement. "Working with airlines and the airport, the limited arrival rate already paid dividends over the Memorial Day holiday with smooth travel into and out of Newark." United Airlines, which operates a major hub at Newark, touted the airport's on-time rate over the previous week. "Newark (EWR) is the most reliable airport in the New York City area this week," the airline said in a statement. United noted that 79% of its departures from Newark were on time between June 2 and June 5, while 88% of arrivals landed at Newark on time, and 90% of the airline's flights departing Newark arrived at their destinations on time. At a press conference announcing the early completion of a runway reconstruction project at the airport, alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, United CEO Scott Kirby said that travelers in and out of Newark will be able to take advantage of great airfare deals this summer. "We did get well behind on bookings because of the perception issues around Newark recently, so that means more seats are available, which means the fares are better than they're probably going to ever be in the years to come, so now's the time to book your vacation if you want to go to Europe or you want to head across the country," he said. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Newark flight? FAA reduces traffic to improve on-time performance
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Train service between San Diego and Los Angeles resumes this weekend
(FOX 5/KUSI) — People traveling between the San Diego and Los Angeles metro areas can take trains once again, now that repairs to a stretch of track have finished. Amtrak and Metrolink trains will resume service along their full coastal routes after the repair project placed nearly 6,000 tons of boulders along a stretch of track that was left unstable due to landslides and coastal erosion. Service along the coastal tracks will resume on Saturday, June 7, according to a news release from Metrolink. Service between the two metro areas was interrupted on April 28 so crews could reduce the risk of landslides and erosion causing damage to the tracks near San Clemente. Murrieta teen left with severe traumatic brain injury walks across graduation stage Crews will continue to work around the impacted area, installing concrete barriers between the tracks and bluffs ahead of a major project to build a 1,400-foot-long catchment wall. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner provides service along a 351-mile corridor between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Metrolink serves commuters throughout six counties in Southern California, with a line heading as far south as Oceanside, in northern San Diego County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
10 hours ago
- Newsweek
Texas-Oklahoma Rail Line Serving Thousands Could Be Scrapped
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Amtrak has stated that it will have to suspend its Heartland Flyer service, which operates between Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, adjacent to the I-35 corridor, unless it receives additional funding from the state of Texas. Newsweek reached out to Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of Transportation via email for comment. Why It Matters According to Amtrak, the Heartland Flyer served over 80,000 customers in the 2024 fiscal year, bringing in $2.2 million in ticket sales, with the Texan economy benefiting "significantly" from the service. The company said that the Heartland Flyer "generates $5.3 million in direct economic benefits and an estimated $23.7 million in overall economic activity." It warned its end would weaken transportation links to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, which is due to host several 2026 Soccer World Cup matches. What To Know In a press release published on Thursday, Amtrak said it would have to suspend the Heartland Flyer service "no later than Oct. 1 unless Texas secures its share of funding." Amtrak said earlier this year that the Texas Department of Transportation asked for $7.05 million to support the Heartland Flyer, but this "was not approved in the legislative budget cycle." The Heartland Flyer is a state-supported train, meaning it connects multiple settlements along a route of less than 750 miles, with the project funded by state authorities in Texas and Oklahoma and operated in partnership with both states' transportation departments. A map showing the current Heartland Flyer line from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City. A map showing the current Heartland Flyer line from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City. Amtrak/Google Maps Overall, Amtrak runs 30 state-supported routes across the country, working with 21 agencies from 18 states. Heartland Flyer is also connected to the Texas Eagle service, which runs to Chicago and San Antonio, and the Sunset Limited, which travels between San Antonio, El Paso and Los Angeles. On Wednesday, the Trump administration warned that it could slash federal funding for the currently under-construction California High-Speed Rail line, intended to link Los Angeles and San Francisco. What People Are Saying Amtrak President Roger Harris, in a press release: "Reliable rail service provides a vital transportation option for residents and visitors alike, strengthening regional mobility, economic development, and tourism. "With service that supports Texas' continued economic growth and the region's connectivity, sustaining the Heartland Flyer is essential to maintaining momentum and ensuring long term mobility in the region." Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, in the same press release: "The Heartland Flyer is key to ensuring Fort Worth's continued success as a global destination and is central to the city's tourism industry, business community, and thriving economy. Fort Worth is the busiest Amtrak station in Texas – generating millions in economic impact annually – and as people continue to move to our region, travel reliability, mobility choices, and connectivity will be key to our competitiveness." Gainesville Mayor Tommy Moore, in the press release: "This is more than just trains and tracks. The Heartland Flyer supports nearly $20 million in annual economic activity and almost 30 full-time jobs. It provides a vital transportation option for Texans and Oklahomans alike – and losing it will be a major setback for mobility, our environment, and our economy. By working together, I believe we can find a solution that keeps the Heartland Flyer on track. I'll keep the public informed every step of the way, and I'll keep fighting to make sure this critical service stays in place for years to come." Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, in the press release: "Oklahoma City has long been committed to a comprehensive, connected transportation system, and we have benefited from the Heartland Flyer's contribution to that vision. We recognize that Texas benefits greatly from the visits of our residents via the Flyer, and we also deeply appreciate the amenity and the connection to the entire Amtrak system. The Heartland Flyer is a vital link that supports economic opportunity throughout our region." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether Texan authorities will provide the funding Amtrak says is required to keep the Heartland Flyer operating.
